Why it's time for Chris Bosh to hang 'em up
The last two years have been tough for the Miami Heat organization and even tougher on one of the franchise's greatest players, Chris Bosh. Over these last two seasons, Bosh has dealt with a multitude of injuries but none of them more damaging and dangerous than his reoccurring blood clots. Two years ago, Bosh was notified that the blood clots he originally had in his calf have eventually spread to his lungs. Sounds scary, right? After missing the back half of the year nursing his body back to health, he was finally cleared by the Heat's team doctors to get back on the court. After starting last season in reasonably productive form (19 ppg and 7.4 rpg), Chris Bosh got the heartbreaking news again that his blood clots have returned, causing him to miss the rest of last season and made his playing status for this upcoming season up in the air. After all summer of rehabbing and practicing and getting his body back in shape, Bosh seemed confident in his eventual return to the Heat starting lineup come October. But despite the inspiring optimism Bosh has displayed, he has still yet to pass a mandatory physical. Pat Riley and the Miami Heat organization have been quiet in secretive when it comes to the health of the 11-time all star from Georgia Tech...until last week.
Recently, Riley and the Heat have announced that they believe Bosh's career is likely over due to his blood clots and that they are no longer working towards his future with the Miami Heat. This has caused Bosh, and even his wife, to take to twitter to speak out against Riley and the Heat and claiming that the 13 year vet still has enough in the tank to contribute to a title contending team. That statement may be true, but personally, I can feel Bosh's optimism is nothing short of denial. If Bosh chooses not to retire and the Heat refuse to bring him back for the 2016-2017 season, which they publicly announced that they wouldn't, the Heat would owe Bosh a buyout of his contract which is worth a hefty sum of 75 million dollars. That is a ton of money to pay just to get a guy out of town. It seems as if Chris Bosh feels like he is being stabbed in the back by the organization that has brought him so much and that he has helped win two championships four and four straight finals appearances. This, I can slightly understand.
But what I can't seem to figure out is why Bosh feels that Riley is making this decision out of malice and spite. It clearly isn't. Pat Riley is a basketball mastermind, a mastermind that helped assemble the Miami big three of Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and of course, Chris Bosh. Riley was also an instrumental factor in trading for Shaquille O'Neal in 2004 that brought the franchise it's first title (with Riley on the bench as head coach) in 2006. Riley also played a long career in the NBA after being a star player in college at Kentucky...playing for celebrated college head coach, Adolph Rupp. Long story short, Pat Riley knows his shit. He knows what the effects of blood clots are gonna have on the body of someone who is 6'11 and 235 pounds. He isn't the type of NBA GM who is gonna flush 75 million dollars down the toilet to get rid of someone who, when healthy, is still an NBA all star. None of this is personal towards Chris Bosh but for now, Bosh is in some serious denial. In today's world of sports, athletes are pushed to their physical limit to play through injuries to perform for their franchises without the regard of their own personal safety. This is why teams staff highly trained doctors and trainers and even then, players somehow manage to be put on the field or court before they are physically ready to handle that activity,only making the injuries worse in the long run (ex. Robert Griffin III). But this isn't a case like Derrick Rose where the consequence of rushing back to the court and pressing the issue results in a re-tear of knee ligaments....the worst case scenario with Chris Bosh could result in an on court death. Blood clots in your lungs don't bode very well for someone who is supposed to be constantly running around a basketball floor for 82 games per season.
I truly admire the courage and determination Bosh has displayed over this troubling time of his career. Most people ,especially me, couldn't even dream of handling such medical issues with overwhelming amounts of optimism.But sometimes, optimism and hope need to take a back seat to logic and honest perspective. Chris Bosh is without a doubt in my mind, a hall of fame basketball player even if he hangs up the sneakers before the season. The dude posted averages of a double double in four different seasons and like I mentioned previously, was a huge factor in winning two NBA titles on one of the greatest teams the NBA has ever seen assembled. For many years in his career, I have claimed that he is the NBA's most under appreciated player and that he never received the credit he truly deserved during the "Heatles" years. Pat Riley knows Chris Bosh still has it on the court, but keeping him alive and avoiding the NBA's biggest tragedy is more important. And for that, he should be thanked.
@E_Campbell3
